Press Clippings April 4, 2016

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1988-The Reds win on for the sixth consecutive season, 5-4, in 12 over the Cardinals

MLB.COM Glimpse of budding talent as Phils visit Reds By Chad Thornburg / MLB.com | April 2nd, 2016 + 17 COMMENTS

Throughout every rebuilding process, there comes a point when a franchise begins to see results. Young prospects break through to the Majors. The lineup starts clicking, the pitching staff finds its groove. Soon, the wins start to accumulate.

The Phillies and Reds are hoping 2016 is that year. Both organizations have fallen out of contention in recent years but are in the midst of significant rebuilds. There are many reasons to be optimistic about each club's future, starting with an Opening Day contest in Cincinnati on Monday at 4:10 p.m. ET. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will get the start for the Phillies in the opener, while 26- year-old righty goes for the Reds.

The Phillies roster that will take the field at Great American Ball Park features some promising youth -- including third baseman Maikel Franco -- with more talent potentially on its way among the Minor League ranks.

"This is the most talent we've had in the four years I've been here," said Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan. "We got to see all of our big prospects ... together in big league camp this year, and they all represented themselves very well. There are a lot of good things happening."

Opening Day will be a first for new Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, who has managed only on an interim basis prior to this season. After a strong spring -- the Phillies entered Saturday 15-11 in Grapefruit League play -- Mackanin is optimistic his club will show improvement in 2016.

"I think with our rotation, and the we're going to have, excluding the right now, I think we're going to be in a lot more games than we were last year," Mackanin said. "I think that's going to lead to more wins. How many remains to be seen."

The Reds find themselves in a similar situation under second-year skipper . Cincinnati boasts some young talent but enters the year without a few familiar names after dealing third baseman and closer this winter.

Outfielder Scott Schebler and infielder Jose Peraza -- part of the return in the Frazier trade -- are two new additions who could make an immediate impact. And even as the Reds trend toward youth, they'll still lean on a few veteran mainstays, including former All- Stars and . They'll also look to get more production out of , who played in just 23 games last season due to injuries.

"I'm excited to have [Mesoraco] back for a multitude of reasons," Price said. "But having the offensive component certainly puts us in a position to be more productive offensively than we were last year."

Phillies' projected Opening Day lineup Cesar Hernandez, 2B Odubel Herrera, CF Maikel Franco, 1B Ryan Howard, 1B Carlos Ruiz, C Peter Bourjos, RF Tyler Goeddel, LF Freddy Galvis, SS Jeremy Hellickson, RHP

Reds' projected Opening Day lineup Zack Cozart, SS Eugenio Suarez, 3B Joey Votto, 1B Brandon Phillips, 2B , RF Devin Mesoraco, C , LF Raisel Iglesias, RHP Billy Hamilton, CF

Peraza optioned, versatile Pacheco makes team 25-man roster not set until Bailey officially placed on DL Monday By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | April 3rd, 2016 + 237 COMMENTS

CINCINNATI -- The Reds made a flurry of last-minute moves on Sunday, ahead of Monday's Opening Day, but do not officially have a final 25-man roster.

One of the odd men out is young infielder Jose Peraza, who was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Ultimately, it was determined Peraza would not get enough at-bats at the big league level as a role player to keep his development going. He would have to fill in at up to four different positions if he made the club.

"There was a lot of internal debate on what was best for the player," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I think we all agree he's a big leaguer and could be playing here now, but it would be in a somewhat limited basis compared to what he'll do in Triple-A."

The reason the final Opening Day roster is not quite official is the Reds have yet to make a move to put on the disabled list. That will be done officially on Monday, the club said.

With re-assigned to Triple-A Louisville, the Reds still need to select a starting for Thursday's game against the Phillies. If it's not Melville, one possibility might be No. 2 prospect Robert Stephenson, who was cut from the camp roster.

"We have made a decision. We're just apparently not going to release it until [Monday]," Price said.

Catcher Ramon Cabrera was also optioned to Triple-A Louisville, while reliever Dayan Diaz also was re-assigned to Louisville. Also not making the club is and Rule 5 player Jake Cave, who was designated for assignment. Cave was placed on waivers originally on Thursday.

Utility player Jordan Pacheco has made the team and his contract was selected. Outfielder Tyler Holt, who was cut from the spring roster last week, was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.

Pacheco was given the good news on Sunday as the team worked out at Great American Ball Park. His ability to play three infield spots and catch helped his cause.

"I'm glad I'm able to be part of this team. I'm glad I'm able to help," Pacheco said. "Last year it was same thing with Arizona. It came down to the last couple of hours."

Much of the bullpen was in flux until near the end of camp. The situation got murkier, though, when the team added in the closing days.

"It's an awesome feeling being on the Opening Day roster," reliever said. "It will definitely be new to be there, but it's exciting and a great opportunity."

Retroactive to March 25, starting pitchers Anthony DeSclafani, John Lamb, and Jon Moscot were placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Outfielder Yorman Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 27. Catcher Kyle Skipworth is on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 31.

DeSclafani is still expected to be ready by April 10 to take the fifth starter's spot and pitch against the Pirates. Here is the breakdown of the Reds' roster:

Position players (13): Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Zack Cozart, Eugenio Suarez, Billy Hamilton, Adam Duvall, Jay Bruce, Devin Mesoraco, , Ivan De Jesus, Scott Schebler, Holt, Pacheco.

Starting pitchers (3): Raisel Iglesias, , Alfredo Simon.

Bullpen (8): J.J. Hoover, Tony Cingrani, Jumbo Diaz, Cotham, Keyvius Sampson, Dan Straily, Ross Ohlendorf and Blake Wood.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Reds' roster: Jose Peraza to start in AAA, Tyler Holt in big leagues C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] 2:58 p.m. EDT April 3, 2016

The 2016 Reds season will begin with another roster move.

Although the team’s roster was due to Major League on Sunday, the one turned into the league office won’t be the official Opening Day roster. That will be made final when right-hander Homer Bailey is moved to the disabled list on Monday and another player is called up.

That other player will likely be Thursday’s starter for the third game of the season, and that player is shrouded in mystery still. Top prospect Robert Stephenson could be that starter or it could be right-hander Tim Melville.

We’ll find out on Monday.

Welcome to the Reds 2016 season — a year in flux. Or depending on your perspective, a year in reflux.

The Reds announced a total of 13 roster moves on Sunday afternoon to get their roster to 25. The biggest takeaways are that Jose Peraza will start the season in Triple-A, Tyler Holt will be in the big leagues and Jake Cave is in limbo.

Peraza, the key piece of the trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox, will start the season in Louisville, despite sticking with the team through their entire camp.

Reds manager Bryan Price said there was plenty of “internal debate” on what was best for Peraza, and ultimately the decision was made for the 22-year-old to play every day in Louisville instead of playing a patchwork of positions in Cincinnati.

“Push comes to shove, he wasn’t going to get six starts a week,” Price said of Peraza, who plays , second base and center field, and is even an option in left field. “There wasn’t any way to do that at this level. We just want him to be ready and I think everyone agrees he’s a big-league player.”

Holt, who was reassigned to minor-league camp on Wednesday, was recalled on Sunday. He takes the outfield spot vacated by possibly Peraza, as well as Rule 5 pick Jake Cave.

Cave was placed on waivers on Thursday, but because waivers aren’t processed this weekend, his fate won’t be known until Monday. If he clears waivers, the Reds must offer him back to the Yankees, who can purchase his contract for $25,000.

Six players were officially placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, all backdated: right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (March 25), left-hander John Lamb (March 25), right-hander Michael Lorenzen (March 25), right-hander Jon Moscot (March 25), outfielder Yorman Rodriguez (March 27) and catcher Kyle Skipworth (March 31).

DeSclafani, who missed his last start with an oblique strain, is still on schedule to pitch the April 10 game against the Pirates. Because of an off day in Chicago on April 12, the team wouldn’t need another starter again until April 17.

Several other players learned Sunday they had made the club. The everyday eight was not much of a surprise, but the bench coming into Opening Day consists of catcher Tucker Barnhart, catcher/infielder Jordan Pacheco, outfielder Scott Schebler, infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. and Holt.

The four-man rotation to start will allow for an eight-man bullpen: closer J.J. Hoover, left-hander Tony Cingrani and right-handers Jumbo Diaz, Ross Ohlendorf, Caleb Cotham, Keyvius Sampson, Blake Wood and Dan Straily.

The rotation to start the season will be right-hander Raisel Iglesias, left-hander Brandon Finnegan, right-hander Alfredo Simon and the mystery pitcher.

Price said he hasn’t settled on the order of Monday’s Opening Day lineup, but does know the personnel — catcher Devin Mesoraco, first baseman Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, shortstop Zack Cozart, third baseman Eugenio Suarez, left fielder Adam Duvall, center fielder Billy Hamilton and right fielder Jay Bruce.

Three of those everyday starters — Hamilton (shoulder), Cozart (knee) and Mesoraco (hip) — had their 2015 seasons cut short by major injuries. Price has said he will give all three extra time off during at least the first month of the season to help protect them from re-injury.

That helped the versatile Pacheco, who also plays all the infield spots other than shortstop, make the team and was one of the reasons some in the organization wanted to go with Peraza. Peraza played both shortstop and center field this spring, as well as second base and left field.

“(There was) internal debate, what was best for the player,” Price said. “There’s certainly a faction that feel he can help the current team in a more limited basis, since we don’t have an everyday spot for him and there’s another faction that felt he was better served to be playing every day in case something were to happen to any of our regulars. He’s got three or four different spots in which he could come in and play full-time.

“It’s basically the same thing that happened to Suarez last year and with an injury to Zack he was better prepared. That, as a reference point, it seems to make sense. I think he’s a big-leaguer, I think we all believe he’s a big-leaguer and could be playing here now, but it would be in somewhat of a limited basis compared to what he’ll do in Triple-A.”

The plan: How the Reds build for a World Series title C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan, [email protected] 9:18 a.m. EDT April 4, 2016

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – There is a plan.

Know that, the plan is real and Reds general manager Dick Williams has it not only on paper, but he has slides with charts and graphs and everything you’d expect to see in a business model meeting with investors.

That’s because Williams, 45, has done that. He worked in investment banking in New York and Atlanta out of college before starting and managing a venture capital fund. After working on George W. Bush’s 2004 presidential campaign, Williams came home to work for the Reds. In November, Williams was named the team’s general manager and eventual successor to as the team’s primary decision-maker in baseball decisions. Jocketty will still be involved after this year, so his fingerprints are on the plan, as well.

Williams shared the plan he and Jocketty have devised with The Enquirer’s C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan recently in Arizona. He came armed with an outline and a stack of papers approximately an inch-and-a-half thick, filled with charts, graphs and ultimately a vision. Here, we share what Williams told us about his vision for the future.

The plan

Any plan starts with a goal, and the Reds’ goal is simple – win a World Series.

A starting point must be both accurately and realistically defined before looking at how to get to the destination. The Reds’ starting point is evident: The team lost 98 games in 2015 and is in the middle of rebuilding its pitching staff and beefing up its minor-league operations.

According to , the Reds are ranked 29th of 30 teams in terms of market size. Market size dictates budgets, profitability and earning potential.

When the current ownership group took over the Reds in 2006, the Reds’ minor-league system was ranked dead last by . The next year, led by former general manager Wayne Krivsky (and many other front-office types who remain from that staff, including senior director of professional scouting Terry Reynolds, assistant general manager Nick Krall and senior director of amateur scouting Chris Buckley), the Reds were up to 12th in those standings. The next year, they were No. 3. At that point, Joey Votto had been a September call-up in 2007 and the team had Jay Bruce and ready to debut in 2008, along with Edinson Volquez. Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco and Zack Cozart still in the minor leagues.

That group of players led the team to three playoff appearances over the course of four years and saw the Reds’ payroll go from more than $63 million at the end of the 2006 season to more than $119 million at the end of 2015. Ranked 29th among market sizes, the Reds at one point had the 12th-highest season-ending payroll, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. That was in 2014, a year after having the 13th-highest in 2013, the last time the team went to the postseason.

The most recent was just the second time in franchise history it had three playoff appearances in four years (noting that playoffs expanded from two teams to four in 1969 to eight teams in 1994 and then the current 10 teams in 2012). But with the Reds’ core from that team getting older and more expensive and the rise of the Pirates and Cubs, along with the continued excellence of the Cardinals, that window has closed.

That means, for the Reds, it’s time to take a step back to get ready for the future – you can call it retooling, rebuilding or whatever you want. The goal is to win a World Series in the future, although that’s not likely in 2016 or 2017.

There are four main components to the rebuild:

1. Trade players who have value, but will not be here for the next window of success - and acquire young talent in return.

This has been the toughest part for Reds fans, who have seen Frazier and Aroldis Chapman depart during the offseason.

This plan started, to some extent, before the 2015 season with the trades of and Alfredo Simon. Those deals showed immediate dividends, saving roughly $14 million in salary between the two players and their big-league replacements.

In exchange for Latos, the Reds received Anthony DeSclafani, who outperformed Latos in 2015 at a fraction of the price. The Reds also received catching prospect .

The Simon deal netted Eugenio Suarez, who stepped in at shortstop after Cozart’s injury, and is now the starting third baseman. The team also received former first-round pick , who was injured much of 2015. The Reds re-signed Simon this spring to a one-year deal.

During the season, the Reds traded Cueto, and Marlon Byrd, all players who were nearing free agency. The team lost six months (two months each) of those players, saved $8 million and received six players – LHP Brandon Finnegan, LHP John Lamb, LHP Cody Reed, OF Adam Duvall, RHP Keury Mella and RHP Stephen Johnson.

After the season, the Reds traded Frazier and Chapman for a total of seven players – IF Jose Peraza, IF , OF Scott Schebler, IF , RHP Caleb Cotham, RHP and 2B .

Chapman was a free agent after the 2016 season (and at the time was awaiting what was ultimately a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball for a domestic violence incident) and Frazier had two more years under team control.

The average age of players in the team’s camp was less than 26. It was more than 28 in 2006 and 27.5 in 2010. The average service time of players in camp this season was just more than one year, less than the three years of service in 2006 and 2010.

The Reds’ minor-league system is currently ranked No. 12 by Baseball America, with six of the players added in trades ranked in the team’s Top 15 prospects.

2. Invest aggressively in the amateur market

The Reds’ pool of signing money for the draft and international signings is $13,923,700, the largest of any team in baseball and more than $6 million above last year’s pool. It’s double the largest pool the team has had since MLB implemented the current system.

That money is determined by where the team picks in the draft. Over the last five seasons, the Reds have drafted an average of 20th.

The teams that have recently come through a rebuild, like the Royals, Pirates, Rays, Astros and Cubs, have all had an extended period of picking high in the draft. From the 10-year period from 2004 to 2013, the Royals’ average draft pick was 5.6, and the Pirates' were the same. Over the same period, the Reds’ average was 13.7, better than the Astros' (14.2, but with no top 30 pick in 2007) but not as good as the Cubs' (10.375, in an average of eight years with no top 30 pick in 2009 or 2004). Over the last five drafts, the Astros’ top pick has averaged at 3.2, the Cubs' 6, the Royals' 11.2 and the Pirates' 12.2. In that same time period, the Reds’ average has been 19.6.

The Reds last picked in the top 10 in 2009, picking Leake at No. 8 overall. The last time they were in the top five was 2002 (Chris Gruler at No. 3) and the only time they’ve picked as high as this year’s No. 2 spot was 1983, taking shortstop . Since 2005, the Reds haven’t had a top five pick, but the Royals (7), Pirates (6), Astros (4), Cubs (3), Twins (3), Rays (3) and Indians (2) have had multiple seasons with top five picks.

3. Create payroll flexibility

That money saved last year and in other trades? It’s in a war chest, ready for when the team needs reinforcements.

The Cubs unleashed their savings from their reduced payroll this offseason, adding $289.95 million in future payroll in big-league signings with , Ben Zobrist, John Lackey, , Trevor Cahill and Andury Acevedo.

The Cubs had the third-highest payroll in baseball in 2009 at more than $141 million. That dropped to just more than $93 million in 2014 (20th) during their rebuild. The Astros had the ninth-highest payroll in baseball in 2009 (more than $108 million) and then just four years later had the lowest payroll in baseball at less than $30 million. In 2011, the Royals had the lowest payroll in baseball ($44.5 million) and last year they were 13th ($128.9 million).

These teams did what the Reds plan to do – save money and then spend it when young talent becomes more expensive or the team needs to add to the roster to make a playoff run, like the Royals did last season.

4. Investments in other areas

Development isn’t just on the field. The Reds promoted Sam Grossman to assistant general manager from his previous role as senior director of baseball analytics. Grossman hired Michael Schatz from Oakland as the manager of baseball analytics and Peter Melgren as a baseball operations analyst. Melgren is a University of Michigan grad who was an economist at Moody’s and has done research at FanGraphs and The Hardball Times.

The team has expanded its internal software, including an application for scouts to use in the field. There's more hardware, including cameras at the big-league and minor-league parks to help gain even more material for both scouting and analytic use.

The team also hired Dr. Charles Leddon to head the team’s director of sports science initiatives. This is a growing field for many teams in attempts to prevent injuries as well as find other advantages based on scientific research.

The team is expanding its player development staff, including strength and conditioning coaches at each minor-league affiliate and an increased budget in nutrition for its minor-league affiliates. This is building better players not just through their skills on the field, but in their preparations for playing. There is new leadership training offered throughout the minors and an expanded offseason strength camp. The Reds have also invested in improvements to their academy in the Dominican Republic.

Finally, they’ve added scouts both internationally and domestically. The team has a new scout in the Pacific Northwest, as well as scouts and leadership in Mexico, Latin America, Central America and Asia.

Will this all work? Time will tell, if baseball's shown anything throughout the years, it's that nothing's guaranteed -- not even a 2-0 lead in a three-game series with three games coming at home. What recent history has shown are the ways smaller-market teams, like the Royals, A's or Rays, can find success. Those types of teams have been so successful that even big-money, big-market teams, like the Cubs and Astros, are following similar blueprints. Williams and the Reds are doing what they can to be the next success story.

Devin Mesoraco fine after being scratched Saturday C. Trent Rosecrans, [email protected] 2:52 p.m. EDT April 3, 2016

With the temperature dropping and the wind blowing Saturday in Indianapolis, the slight soreness Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco felt in his surgically repaired right hip was enough for the Reds to keep him out of the exhibition game.

It shouldn’t impact his availability for Monday’s Opening Day game against the Phillies, Reds manager Bryan Price said before Sunday's workout at Great American Ball Park.

“It was going to be very difficult for anyone to stay loose,” Price said of Saturday’s conditions. “Going in being a little stiff, it didn’t make a lot of sense.”

The precaution made sense to Mesoraco.

“It was really cold," the catcher said. "I couldn’t get warmed up. I’m kind of glad they didn’t let me play. It didn’t look that much fun out there with the wind and cold."

The forecast calls for another cool day in Cincinnati on Monday, if not the wind chill the team experienced at Victory Field — and that Mesoraco will have had 48 hours more rest.

Price said he’ll be careful to get Mesoraco, Billy Hamilton and Zack Cozart more time off early in the season. Hamilton had shoulder surgery last year and Cozart had knee surgery. All three started their Cactus League action later than the rest of the team, but were up to speed by the end of March.

“This first month (we’re) just getting (Mesoraco) in regular shape,” Price said. “(When) we see him back catching the games I anticipate being four out of five or whatever, it is then we’ll know he’s made it and put all this stuff behind him. We’re just making sure I don’t put him out of the field when I have other options.”

Cozart and Hamilton will play more than Mesoraco early, but that was to be expected based on the nature of their positions.

“They got a fair amount of playing time,” Price said. “I don’t think they’re at midseason form, but I don’t think anyone is.”

Duvall to start

Bryan Price wasn’t ready to put his lineup in ink before Sunday’s workout, but did say he’d start Adam Duvall in left field. Of the every day eight position spots entering spring training, left field was the only position that was up for grabs.

While Duvall is getting the first shot, Scott Schebler will also get playing time. While Duvall is a right-handed hitter and Schebler a lefty, the platoon will not be set up on left-right splits, Price said.

“Duvall hits righties well and Schebler hits lefties — or has all spring,” Price said. “I want to them to get enough playing time, where they’re familiar with their swings and not take steps backward but not getting starts for five, seven days.”

Duvall .313/.324/.582 with four home runs in 23 games this spring, while Schebler hit .288/.354/.525 with three home runs in 23 games. Both hit right-handers better this spring and have historically hit right-handers better than lefties. Duvall was 4-for-22 against lefties this spring and Schebler was 3-for-12 against left-handed pitching.

While Price wasn’t ready to name his lineup on Sunday morning, he did say nobody would be surprised by the names in it, only the order had not yet been decided.

Cincinnati Reds pitching notes: Dan Straily in majors, Steve Delabar in Triple-A Zach Buchanan, [email protected] 2:14 p.m. EDT April 3, 2016

The Cincinnati Reds added two pitchers since Friday, but only one of them will be an immediate help in the big leagues.

Right-hander Dan Straily, claimed off waivers Friday, will slot into the major-league bullpen. Fellow righty Steve Delabar, signed to a minor-league deal Saturday, will open the season with Triple-A Louisville.

Straily was traded last week from the to the , who then waived him. He had a 6.00 ERA in spring training, making one start and four relief appearances. The Reds will be his fourth team since 2014.

He’ll be a reliever with Cincinnati, but could also start a few games if needed. The Reds have not announced a starter for the third game of the season Wednesday.

“He’ll pitch as a length guy out of our bullpen,” manager Bryan Price said. “He’s also another guy who can pitch up a spot start. He can get into the rotation if need be.”

Delabar was released by the , and could be a mid-season reinforcement if needed. He has three years of major- league service time and is coming off a strong spring training.

“We want to get him to Louisville and get his feet under him in the organization,” Price said. “If he’s a solid option and we need him, we’d love to have his experience in our bullpen.”

Disco and Iglesias

Cuban righty Raisel Iglesias, named the team’s Opening Day starter last week, should be able to handle a full game load despite getting a late start to spring training. Price said Iglesias should be able to throw six innings and 95 pitches.

The Reds held Iglesias back at the start of spring as a precaution against overworking his shoulder. He made four starts in spring between Cactus League games and minor-league contests.

“We’ve got him stretched out to where we’re very comfortable,” Price said. “, not out of picture but probably not likely.”

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani was placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 25, but Price expects him to be ready to pitch by April 10 against the . DeSclafani was expected to be named Opening Day starter, but dealt with an oblique injury late in camp.

DeSclafani was scheduled to throw a bullpen during Sunday’s workout, and will throw a simulated game during the first series of the season.

“He’s not out of the woods,” Price said. “He hasn’t been cleared yet. He’s followed every part of the rehab protocol. He hasn’t missed a beat. I’m optimistic he’ll make that start.”’

Bullpen settling

The Reds will start with an eight-man bullpen, but many roles will be settled as the first weeks of the season progresses. All Price would say is J.J. Hoover would be his closer and that Straily and righty Keyvius Sampson would serve as long relievers.

Price did indicate he’s leaning toward a combination of righty Ross Ohlendorf and lefty Tony Cingrani to get to Hoover. Ohlendorf was signed late in spring training, and Cingrani is a converted starter. Both have more big-league experience than anyone further down in the bullpen mix, with the exception of Straily.

“Initially, you’ll see a little bit more of an experienced flavor to the back end of the bullpen and let those guys have an opportunity to settle into those roles,” Price said.

Righties Blake Wood, Caleb Cotham and Jumbo Diaz will pitch in middle relief until they can prove they deserve a larger role.

Doc: Who are these guys? Well, here’s some insight Paul Daugherty, [email protected] 5:16 a.m. EDT April 4, 2016

The Reds Opening Day roster is set in stone. The loose, rock-slide kind. The Cincinnati reboot proceeds apace, and that means we’ll be in that Getting To Know You Phase for the foreseeable future. Maybe this year, Bryan Price writes the lineups in pencil.

You got Votto, you got Mesoraco. You got Cozart and Hamilton, and maybe a Suarez or two. After that, you got Bruce and Phillips who are here for the time being, and a scorecard with names and numbers on it.

A flurry of roster moves Sunday made it certain that we will be confused on Monday. So as a public service, I toured the home clubhouse Sunday, looking for players with whom fans might not be familiar. I asked one question:

“Tell me something about yourself that has nothing to do with baseball.’’

I have no idea how the new guys will play. But if they’re as compelling on the field as off it, they won’t be half bad.

Jordan Pacheco, the catcher/infielder, has taken up guitar. He plays a Yamaha acoustic he bought used. 80s rock. He’s learning “Wonderwall,’’ the mid-90s Oasis tune.

“It takes my mind off baseball,’’ Pacheco said. “It takes my brain and puts it in another atmosphere.

“I play at night. My fiancée doesn’t like it too much. I told her I’m getting better.’’

If the baseball thing doesn’t work out, I suggested Pacheco he could sing in the subway. “Yeah,’’ he agreed. “They’d pay me to stop.’’

Ross Ohlendorf, the reliever, raises longhorn steer in Austin, TX. His Rocking O Longhorns spread, mostly leased, holds 300 registered longhorns and calves. “They’re pretty cows. That’s the main appeal. Their meat is lean,’’ explained Ohlendorf.

University of Texas alumni buy them, and use them as “pasture ornaments,’’ said Ohlendorf. “They want cattle for the grass. They’re pretty cows.’’

Ohlendorf is also a grad, with a major in Operations Research and Financial Engineering. It’s the sort of major favored by investment bankers. Ohlendorf said some of what he learned is now being used in major league front offices. He said he’d consider a post-playing career in a front office, but gives it no thought now. “Evaluating other players isn’t going to help me as a pitcher,’’ he said.

Caleb Cotham, reliever, called himself “an avid learner. Guitar, golf, board games, computer games. I’m super into board games.’’ Cotham also wanted to learn to play golf. The last two years he “read a bunch of golf books.’’ Then he shot a 72 at spring training, missing a makeable birdie putt on No. 18. Quick learner.

Cotham played the board game Settlers of Catan five nights a week in the offseason. He’s re-learning to play the guitar by watching tutorials online. He likes John Mayer, Kings of Leon, the Avett Brothers. “I’m learning where to put my hands for certain chord progressions,’’ he said.

His favorite book is The Four Hour Chef, by Tim Ferris. “Cooking is the medium he uses to teach you how to learn anything,’’ Cotham explained. And you thought these guys were just ballplayers.

Scott Schebler is from Iowa. In the offseason, he fishes for walleye at Mississippi Pool Nine, which I’m guessing is a place in the Big Muddy where there are lots of fish. He likes to be snowed in on occasion. He ice-fishes in the winter, but he doesn’t own a shack or drive his truck on the ice, the way his buddies do.

He played briefly for the Dodgers. LA didn’t quite suit him, though he did meet Jimmy Kimmel. “Everybody’s in a hurry. I’m pretty chill,’’ he said.

Early Sunday afternoon, the Reds announced they’d designated outfielder Jake Cave for assignment, so for our purposes, Cave’s obsession with Eminem doesn’t pack quite the punch it did on Sunday morning. We won’t care now, for example, that Cave’s walk- up music is ’Til I Collapse.

Or that he’s a movie fanatic – The Green Mile is his favorite – and that Tom Hanks is his favorite actor.

In case you were wondering.

WCPO - Channel 9 Broo View: Reds could be better than they look this season Ken Broo 8:15 PM, Apr 3, 2016

CINCINNATI -- It's a lot easier to talk about why something isn't going to happen than why it might. It's the way life is: negatives are always easier to talk about because it usually only takes one negative to completely nuke everything positive in just about any situation.

Think about it: you do 99 things right in whatever your job is, or your personal life, and do one thing wrong and you seem like a total idiot. it's no different in sports and it applies a lot to what the 2016 Cincinnati Reds are all about. Ask around, judge for yourself. Listen to what's said in your world, in the world of radio and TV. Read what is written, and it's not hard to come to the conclusion that this season is going to be baseball's version of a root canal: lot of discomfort and a good chance you'll spend more time trying to get over it than enjoy what it might lead to.

Every expert and anyone with an opinion believes the Reds are going to be awful this year. They'll point to trades that have dispatched stars like Todd Frazier, Aroldis Chapman, Mike Leake and Johnny Cueto. They'll point to a pitching staff that's been desiccated by injuries this spring and populated with too much inexperience. They'll hold up as evidence a bullpen as porous as cheese cloth and management and ownership that has dumped salary at every chance. And none of that is untrue.

Look, I'm not into blowing smoke, puffing sunshine, sea shells and balloons. If my opinion runs in that direction, great. But I've always been a realist. At the risk of abdicating that, let me give you seven good reasons why I think this season may not be the dumpster fire a lot of people think. Don't get me wrong: I think the Reds and the Cubs, Pirates and Cardinals will go in opposite directions for a good part of this coming season. But here's why I think it won't be Dunkirk, circa 1944.

1: Robert Stephenson and Cody Reed. The starting pitching will get better as the season rolls along. Both Stephenson and Reed will be on the Major League roster sooner than later. They were only sent to the minor league camp because of one thing: money. If they had been with the team Opening Day, their Major League "clocks" would be ticking. By leaving them in the minors to start the season, the Reds will have an extra year before having to deal with both in free agency.

Stephenson struggled for most of last season. But he remains the Reds' top prospect. His robust 9.58 ERA in four spring starts this year could be alarming. But last season in AA and AAA, Stephenson had a 25 percent rate. Reed, I believe, was the steal of last year's trades. Some metrics have Reed comparable to what Roy Halladay was at his age. He's 6-5 and his tops out in the mid-90s. And, Reed is left handed.

2: Eugenio Suarez. Think about this: the Reds got Suarez in a deal a year ago from the Tigers for Alfredo Simon. Now, they have Simon back on the roster. Suarez played in 22 games this spring and reached base in all of them. He hit .356 with a .457 OBP. And this is after hitting .280 last season.

3: Joey Votto. This is a fact even the Votto haters can't dispute. If elite is defined as a player in the 90th percentile, then Joey Votto is more than elite. Seven hundred fifty players will make Major League rosters. Votto is clearly among the top 75 players in the game. This Spring, Votto hit an insane .455 and got on base at a .529 clip.

4: Jose Peraza. In a phrase, Peraza is Billy Hamilton insurance. Hamilton had a miserable spring. But the Reds will ride with him because he's fast and he plays good defense. But that will only last for so long. He's batting 9th again to start this season. That's of absolutely no value to a team that desperately needs him to lead off.

If Hamilton starts out 2-25 or 3-37, which is very real since he walked just twice this spring and got on base just over 25 percent of the time, here comes Peraza. This guy can play short, second and center and corner outfield. He hit .281 and got on base less than 30 percent of his plate appearances. But in AAA last year, Peraza hit just a tick below .300.

5: Injured pitchers will return soon. The Reds will start this season with two pitchers some projected to be starters, hurt. They'll also start the season with Homer Bailey on the DL. But Bailey is on track to join the team in early May. And Moscot, who threw pain- free this past Monday, could be ready by the end of April. Michael Lorenzen's situation is a bit dicier. He was diagnosed mid-camp with a UCL sprain. That's the ligament in the elbow that, when torn, requires Tommy John surgery. The Reds believe rehabilitation will get Lorenzen pitching again soon. The bottom line on all of this: when Moscot, Lorenzen and John Lamb, who's recovering from back surgery and is expected to return in early May, the Reds will have a wealth of options for their five man starting rotation. The odd men out could go to the bullpen. And that will help solve the problem there.

6: Scott Schebler and Adam Duvall. This could conjure up memories of the Lance Nix-Johnny Gomes platoon that helped the Reds to playoff appearances a few years back. Schebler was part of the deal that sent Frazier to the White Sox. Duvall came to Cincinnati in the Mike Leake trade. Both have had decent springs. Schebler hit .288 and got on base at a .354 clip. Duvall hit .313 with an on base percentage of .324.

7: Jay Bruce. Let's face it: the Reds would've traded Bruce this winter for you. Wisely, when a three-team deal fell apart about six weeks ago, they became more selective in what to do with him. Bruce has had a decent spring. He hit .286 and got on base at a .355 clip. But here's the better stat: Bruce struck out only nine times in 59 plate appearances. He's got one year to go on his contract. The Reds hold an option on him for 2017 which they'll surely decline. So Bruce knows on this, his 29th birthday, that if he can hit like he did in 2012 and 2013, he'll have a big contract waiting for him somewhere. I think he has now become a valuable asset for the Reds come the trade deadline.

Will any of this happen? Is it more of a hope than a probability? I don't know. There's no one, anywhere, who knows for sure. Baseball is a business where you only have to be right 30 percent of the time and Cooperstown could be calling. But I think for all of this, those who believe this team will win just 60 games or 70 games are wrong. I may be too. It's all just lip flapping until they start keeping score.

How many wins can Reds fans hope for? John Fay 3:50 PM, Apr 3, 2016

CINCINNATI — Baseball is ultimately a bottom-line business. You can look at stats, trends, lineups, rosters, et al. But in the end, all that matters in determining a club’s success is wins.

Win enough to get to the postseason and it’s a successful year for most franchise. Make a good run in the postseason and it’s a great year. Win it all? That’s ultimate.

For a team like the 2016 Reds, postseason, good runs in postseason and World Series titles are seemingly completely out of reach. Even the most optimistic optimists in Redsland don’t expect that. You have to be a Glass-Half-Full type to imagine even a .500 season.

So what can we expect are far as wins? What would be judged a good year?

The various bookmakers in the Las Vegas put the over-under at between 70 and 72. A lot of pundits aren’t so kind. Sports Illustrated has them winning 68. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has them winning 64.

Me? I think Vegas' numbers are in line.

I thought the Reds were in line to exceed expectations (although expectations obviously are very low) because the lineup — if Devin Mesoraco and Zack Cozart are healthy — will produce enough runs to flirt with .500 provided the pitching is much better than last year. (To wit: The Reds scored seven runs fewer than the St. Louis Cardinals last year but won 36 fewer games. That was because of pitching.)

Having Mesoraco and Cozart back at their 2014 level offsets the loss of Todd Frazier in the lineup.

But the offense can’t score enough to win if the pitching isn’t a lot better than last year.

I thought the pitching would be better this year, but then the Reds started losing starting pitchers. First Michael Lorenzen, then Jon Moscot, then Anthony DeSclafani. When your Opening Day starter gets the nod by default, your second-game starter has a 10-plus ERA in spring and TBA is starting in Game 3, it makes it tough to exceed expectations as least early.

The pitching will be hard to judge until some of the injured pitchers return, but I think the success of this team hinges on pitching.

Running a rookie starter out there every day after July 31 was the biggest reason the Reds lost 98 games last year.

Those rookies got invaluable experience. Experience doesn’t always translate into success. But if DeSclafani, Raisel Iglesias, Brandon Finnegan, Moscot and John Lamb improve, the rotation behind Homer Bailey could be competitive.

Adding Alfredo Simon only helps.

The bullpen remains a question. J.J. Hoover takes over as closer. He’s not going to be as flashy as Aroldis Chapman — nobody is — but Hoover has to stuff to be successful. The biggest question is how will he handle the pressure, particularly if he struggles. Tony Cingrani has had a great spring. That’s a good sign.

But from there, you have a lot of questions. The Reds acknowledged that by adding Ross Ohlendorf late in camp and Dan Straily Friday. Beyond Hoover and Cingrani, everyone in the bullpen on Opening Day will be a retread of one degree on another.

If the bullpen blows up, the Reds will have to turn to some of those good young arms they’ve accumulated or the low side of those win predictions could be right on target.

If the pitching falls into place once the Reds get healthy, they could surprise people and win 75-plus games.

That would be a good first step in the rebuild.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price likes challenge of NL Central BASEBALL By David Jablonski - Staff Writer Posted: 4:34 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2016

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds spent the last 11 days of the 2015 season in last place in the Central Division, but they won’t start the 2016 season in the basement.

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 Sunday in Pittsburgh in the first game of the new season. For what it’s worth, the Reds will be behind the Pirates and ahead of the Cardinals in the standings when they play the on Opening Day at 4:10 p.m. Monday at Great American Ball Park.

The , Cardinals and Pirates all rank in the top 11 of ESPN’s preseason power rankings.

“I love the fact that the has become one of the strongest divisions in baseball,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “It’s better than being in a soft division and then going and getting roughed up by teams outside your division in the postseason.”

First opener: Eugenio Suarez, 24, will make his first Opening Day start. The shortstop turned third baseman hit .280 in 97 games last season, taking over when Zack Cozart suffered a season-ending knee injury.

“I feel comfortable,” Suarez said. “I’ve got more experience. My mind is great. My body feels good. I’m working hard on my body. That will help me hit the ball ball hard.”

Final moves: The Reds made a number of moves Sunday to trim their Opening Day roster to 25.

• They optioned catcher Ramon Cabrera and infielder/outfielder Jose Peraza to Triple-A Louisville and reassigned pitchers Dayan Diaz and Tim Melville to Louisville.

• They recalled outfielder Tyler Holt from Louisville and selected the contract of catcher/infielder Jordan Pacheco from Louisville.

• They designated outfielder Jake Cave for assignment.

• They placed pitchers Anthony DeSclafani, John Lamb, Michael Lorenzen and Jon Moscot on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25. They placed outfielder Yorman Rodriguez on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 27 and catcher Kyle Shipworth on the 15-day DL retroactive to March 31.

Here is the 25-man roster for the start of the 2016 season. Homer Bailey is expected to go on the 15-day DL on Monday and be replaced by a pitcher who will start the third game of the season Thursday. That could be rookie Robert Stephenson.

Pitchers (12): Bailey; Caleb Cotham; Jumbo Diaz; J.J. Hoover; Raisel Iglesias; Ross Ohlendorf; Keyvius Sampson; Alfredo Simon; Dan Straily; Blake Wood; Tony Cingrani; Brandon Finnegan.

Catchers (3): Tucker Barnhart; Devin Mesoraco; and Pacheco.

Infielders (5): Zack Cozart; Ivan DeJesus Jr.; Brandon Phillips; Eugenio Suarez; Joey Votto.

Outfielders (5): Jay Bruce; Adam Duvall; Billy Hamilton; Holt; and Scott Schebler.

Joey Votto: Staying healthy key for Cincinnati Reds BASEBALL By David Jablonski - Staff Writer Posted: 3:24 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2016

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto will start his eighth straight Opening Day at first base for the Cincinnati Reds at 4:10 p.m. Monday at Great American Ball Park. What does he remember about his first opener in 2008? “Not playing,” Votto said Saturday.

Votto debuted with the Reds in September 2007 and made the Opening Day roster a season later. On March 31, 2007, in the season opener against the , he didn’t get off the bench in a 4-2 loss. He split time with Scott Hatteberg for the first couple weeks of the season.

“I felt like Aaron Rodgers playing behind Brett Favre,” Votto joked, “Scott Hatteberg being the proverbial Bret Favre, though.”

Votto started his first opener in 2009 and for many years has been the face of a franchise that had a strong run from 2010 to 2013 but now faces a rebuilding project that has dimmed expectations.

Cincinnati’s Opening Day starter against the Philadelphia Phillies is Raisel Iglesias, the first pitcher to start the opener with 16 or fewer career starts since Frank Pastore, who had nine career starts before the 1980 opener. As a rookie last season, Iglesias was 3-7 with a 4.15 ERA in 16 starts.

“He’s a guy that’s nasty,” catcher Tucker Barnhart said. “He’s really really good. I’m anxious to see how he fares this year.”

Brandon Finnegan, 22, who has made four career starts, starts the second game Wednesday night. Two other expected starters, when they return from the disabled list, are almost as young. Anthony DeSclafani is 25. Michael Lorenzen is 24.

Veteran Alfredo Simon, 34, returned to the Reds in March after a season with the , and the Reds do expect to see Homer Bailey, 29, return to the rotation in early May. Still, a young pitching staff is the big reason most experts think the Reds will finish last in the National League Central Division for a second straight season.

The position players are another story. Six of the expected starters on Opening Day — Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Zack Cozart, Devin Mesoraco and Billy Hamilton — have combined to start 30 openers.

Cozart and Mesoraco return to the lineup after missing most of the 2015 season with injuries.

“I’m glad to see those guys healthy,” Votto said, “and that’s going to be a priority for us: staying healthy.”

The Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 in the 2015 opener, stopping a two-game losing streak on Opening Day. They started the season 4-0 but finished 64-98. The .395 winning percentage was their worst since 1982 (61-101, .377). It was also only the second time since 1945 they’ve had a winning percentage lower than .400.

Of course, the excitement of Opening Day overshadows the reality of the season ahead.

“In 2014, when I broke with the team, hearing your name on Opening Day, there’s really nothing more special,” Barnhart said, “just because you’ve worked so hard to get to that level. It gives you chills.”

Cincinnati Reds preview: 5 storylines to watch BASEBALL By Gary Schatz - Contributing Writer Posted: 11:47 a.m. Friday, April 1, 2016

GOODYEAR, ARIZ. — The Cincinnati Reds suffered through a 64-98 campaign in 2015. They divested themselves of most of the their top players, starting with ace pitcher Johnny Cueto. Mike Leake ended the season tied for the team lead in wins but was traded. Combined with the season-long injury to Homer Bailey, the Reds were forced to use rookie pitchers to start 110 games, including the last 64.

The Reds traded All-Stars Todd Frazier and Aroldis Chapman. Brandon Phillips was traded twice but vetoed both deals, his right as a 10-year veteran who has been with his current team at least five years.

The Reds hope the young pitchers will be a year better and Bailey will return to form in 2016. Here are five storylines to watch:

1. Will the young pitchers be better?

That question won’t be answered until May. Bailey and left-hander John Lamb didn’t throw a pitch when it counted this spring. Bailey and Lamb, who had back surgery, will return sometime in May. Raisel Iglesias, slated to be the fifth starter, has traded places with Anthony DeSclafani, and will be the Opening Day starter.

DeSclafani made all of his starts last season but a strained left oblique will push him back to April 10.

Jon Moscot and Michael Lorenzen had setbacks. Moscot (strained rib cage) made a start Monday but won’t have his arm built up enough to start in the first week. Lorenzen has tendinitis in his right elbow and hasn’t pitched since March 4.

Brandon Finnegan will start the season in the rotation. He allowed five runs in a minor league game Thursday, his third outing in a row in which he’s given up at least that many.

The Reds left Arizona without firming up plans for the third game of the season Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

There is debate among the organization about whether to add Tim Melville to the roster or recall a rookie like Robert Stephenson to make one start. It could have been Cody Reed, who pitched a strong game in the spring finale against the Indians. but he would have to be added to the roster for one start and it would cost the team a year of financial control.

2. Who will play left field?

Reds manager Bryan Price sees this position as a platoon. Not the strict left-handed, right-handed batter platoon but a shared position until one of the young players takes control.

Adam Duvall was told he made his first major-league roster. He played in some major-league games with the in 2014 and in 27 games with the Reds last season.

Duvall, a right-handed hitter, led the Reds this spring with four home runs and 17 RBIs. He also hit .323. Scott Schebler hit .281 with three home runs.

Yorman Rodriguez is out of options and hit .225. He is currently nursing a pulled left hamstring.

3. The walking wounded

Zack Cozart, Billy Hamilton and Devin Mesoraco had season-ending surgery last year, costing the Reds some offensive production.

Cozart was on his way to his best season when he tore ligaments in his right knee in June.

Mesoraco was going to be in the middle of the lineup and catch 140 games. A hip impingement allowed him to catch just six games. Stubbornness cost the Reds when they played a man short for six weeks until they finally put Mesoraco on the disabled list. He had surgery in June.

Hamilton had shoulder surgery in September.

All three have proven healthy this spring.

“We built them all up to play complete games,” Price said. “Hamilton has played complete games multiple times although he’s not in mid-season form throwing-wise. Since we got him back in the swing of things he hasn’t had any pain. He will continue to build arm strength.”

Cozart has played nine innings and back-to-back games.

Mesoraco caught nine innings twice. Mesoraco was productive in his spring at-bats. He hit safely in all six appearances, driving in two or more runs in four of them.

Hamilton started slowly at the plate but had three hits in his last two games.

4. Leadoff hitter

Cozart will be the leadoff hitter early in the season with Hamilton batting lower in the order.

“I talked to Billy about hitting lower in the order. I told him I wanted him at the top of the order but he has to be swinging the bat and getting on base at a higher percentage. It’s not a shot across the bow. It’s the reality. You have to have the efficiency to get all those at-bats.

“He’ll continue to work on the things like keeping the ball out of the air, getting his bunts down, commanding the strike zone. He still gives us things we are excited about; setting the table on the other side of the lineup.”

“He’s a prototype of a leadoff hitter, from a speed prospective, we just have to get him on base.”

5. The bench

The Reds are leaning toward putting veteran Jordan Pacheco on the roster. He is hitting .319 with six doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs. Pacheco provides the luxury of being a third catcher.

Pacheco will have to be added to the roster.

He hit .319 and saw game action in five positions — second base, first base, left field, catcher and third base. He can be a powerful right-handed pinch hitter.

Jose Peraza is part of the great debate going on in the front office and among the coaches. Peraza hit .305 with a . He led the team with six stolen bases and 12 runs scored and had six multi-hit games. He is adept in the middle infield and center field.

“He has makeup speed,” Price said. “Even when he misjudges a fly ball or is caught out of position he has the speed to get to the ball and make a play.”

CBSSPORTS.COM

The Reds just placed an entire starting rotation on the DL to start 2016 By Mike Axisa | Baseball Writer April 3, 2016 3:55 pm ET

The Reds committed to a rebuild last season, most notably trading away Johnny Cueto at the deadline and Todd Frazier in the offseason. Our SportsLine projections have Cincinnati winning only 67 games in 2016. Losing is part of rebuilding, unfortunately.

To make matters worse, the Reds will have five starting pitchers on the disabled list to start the 2016 season. Five! They have an entire rotation on the DL. Here's the list:

Homer Bailey: Rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Anthony DeSclafani: Suffered an oblique strain this spring. John Lamb: Rehabbing from back surgery. Michael Lorenzen: Suffered an elbow strain this spring. Jon Moscot: Suffered an intercostal strain this spring.

Bailey had his elbow rebuilt last year, so it is no surprise he has to start the season on the DL. That was the plan all along. Lamb was always questionable for Opening Day as well. There's just no reason for the Reds to rush him back.

DeSclafani, Lorenzen, and Moscot all got hurt in spring training. DeSclafani figured to be in the mix to start Opening Day before the injury. That start will go to right-hander Raisel Iglesias now.

For now, lefty Brandon Finnegan and righty Alfredo Simon figure to follow Iglesias in the rotation. (Finnegan is scheduled to start the season game of the season.) Dan Straily, who was just claimed off waivers, and Keyvius Sampson are other rotation candidates.

ESPN.COM Cubs, Royals top my ranking of MLB teams, 1-30 9:44 AM ET Buster Olney ESPN Senior Writer

SAN DIEGO -- Ranking all 30 teams as the 2016 season gets underway:

1. Chicago Cubs

Manager has been tinkering with his lineup this spring, thinking about whether he should hit Anthony Rizzo in the No. 3 spot. Or Ben Zobrist. Or . Kyle Schwarber could probably hit there, and so could Jason Heyward. They have the deepest roster in baseball and a good farm system, and if the Cubs develop a clear need during the season, the front office will go get the bullpen piece or the they need.

2.

Not only do the Royals have the best defense in baseball and arguably the best bullpen and the best group of contact hitters this side of AT&T Park, but now they have the experience gleaned over the last two postseasons, the sort of scar tissue that becomes a weapon in crucial moments. You can feel it when you're around the Royals; you can feel that this is a team on a mission to build a legacy. 3. Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays may have gotten more out of spring training than any other team because they found solutions: crushed the competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, and Michael Saunders had a good spring and won the starting job in left field. Toronto is what we thought they were last fall: A slow-pitch softball team masquerading as a baseball team, piling up runs.

4.

The Rangers won the AL West last season, and they have plenty in the way of future production to augment their major league roster in 2016: Yu Darvish is due back in mid-May; they have big-time prospects in the minors in Joey Gallo, Jurickson Profar and Nomar Mazara, and now have another impact bullpen arm in Matt Bush.

5.

For all the talk about Matt Williams's managerial style, the decision to trade for Jonathan Papelbon and the late-season dugout fight between him and , you can argue that the primary reason why the Nationals dropped from 96 wins in 2014 to 83 last year was simply because of injuries. finished fifth in the NL MVP voting in 2014, but was limited to just 80 games last year. Denard Span was hurt, and so were Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth. Now Rendon and Zimmerman appear to be healthy, and the Nationals signed Daniel Murphy, who should be able to take advantage of some of the opportunities presented by the presence of the NL's best player in Harper. This is a really good team again.

6. San Francisco Giants

The Giants have won three World Series in the last five years, and yet this might be the best San Francisco team, on paper, in Bruce Bochy's time as manager, because of the quality of the infield and the rotation.

7. St. Louis Cardinals

There are a lot of questions about the Cardinals' everyday lineup, about the source of the home run production. But the St. Louis pitching was historically great last season, and with Adam Wainwright back in the rotation, Jaime Garcia healthy and Carlos Martinez one year wiser, this should be a stabilizer for the Cardinals all year.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh opened spring training with a lot of worries, but through their time in Bradenton, Florida, the Pirates alleviated a lot of those concerns; they settled on a leadoff man and first baseman in John Jaso, developed their usual pitching rehab projects in Juan Nicasio and and signed David Freese to play third base.

9.

The pitching is phenomenal, of course, but the Mets will learn early on about how much help they can expect from veteran third baseman David Wright -- who looked very uncomfortable in Sunday's opener, in how he moved and swung -- and whether Yoenis Cespedes is going to be more like Superman or Clark Kent. The Mets will learn early what sort of production they'll get from shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and from second baseman Neil Walker.

10. Houston Astros

The injury to Lance McCullers aggravates the biggest potential problem area for the Astros: their rotation behind Dallas Keuchel.

11. Dodgers

The Dodgers were crushed by injuries in spring training, so the early part of the season could be pivotal for this team. Until Hyun- Jin Ryu, Brett Anderson and others make their way back to the rotation, and until the top of a deep farm system churns out more help, the Dodgers may have to rope-a-dope the NL West race. Here's a good sign: By all accounts, outfielder Yasiel Puig had a good spring training, digging into his work under new manager Dave Roberts.

12.

The formula could work, with a deep group of position players and perhaps the best trio of relievers we've seen for the seventh, eighth and ninth innings in Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. But the Yankees' rotation is very thin, and without much starting help in return.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks

Once we have access to 20/20 hindsight, we might look back at the 2016 season and find the turning point of the year occurred before the first pitch was even thrown: when A.J. Pollock got hurt.

14.

The bullpen improvement has been mitigated by the injury to Carson Smith, and nobody knows what Boston can expect out of lefty starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who was supposed to be the No. 2 starter.

15.

The Indians have been pleased with how diligent Michael Brantley has been about his shoulder, in working to make sure he'll be as healthy as he can be for as many games as possible -- which might be the difference between Cleveland making the playoffs or not.

16.

This might be the most dangerous Rays team since 2008 because of the quality and depth of their starting pitching, with , now-healthy and others in the big leagues and prospect Blake Snell ready to ascend from the minors. They need a shortstop solution to emerge, however, and their bullpen -- which is without injured closer for now -- is a concern.

17.

The Twins were underrated for much of last season on their way to a surprising 83 victories, and they might be underrated here again, because Minnesota's young players now have another year of experience and because the middle of the order could be much improved. Miguel Sano demonstrated he can be a high-impact hitter, and Byung Ho Park, signed during the offseason from Korea, impressed some scouts in spring training. The X factor is Byron Buxton, the team's incredibly talented outfielder. Buxton was overwhelmed in his first taste of the big leagues last season, hitting .209 with 44 in 138 plate appearances. If this is the year he figures it out, his speed and ability could drive the Twins from the middle of the pack to something more.

18. Detroit Tigers

Starting pitchers Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez could be the difference between the Tigers contending for the AL Central title or not; Detroit needs big production from this duo.

19.

Scouts really like the changes in the Mariners' lineup, and Robinson Cano had a great spring training; this could be the best Seattle offense in years. But there are questions about the bullpen and the rotation depth.

20.

Everything must go right for the Marlins to hang with the big dogs in the NL East. Giancarlo Stanton has to avoid injury and stay in the lineup, Jose Fernandez has to be efficient in the innings he's permitted to throw, and a solution must be developed at the back end of the rotation.

21.

There was a lot of optimism in the White Sox training camp, even through the odd Drake LaRoche situation. Todd Frazier's power should help immensely and make it more difficult to pitch around Jose Abreu, and Chicago is hopeful that a defense that was the worst in the majors in 2015 will be a lot better.

22.

Coming off their worst season in almost two decades, the Athletics tinkered with their roster and added the likes of outfielder Khris Davis, first baseman and starting pitcher . They need a bounce-back from the defense, and from the bullpen.

23.

Somehow, the Angels need to create more production around in their lineup. But this is worth remembering: New GM Billy Eppler adopted a clear strategy that has worked for the Royals: Build a lineup of contact hitters (like newly acquired ) and commit to defense (like that of new shortstop Andrelton Simmons). The Angels' farm system is a disaster, and they probably don't have enough depth to hang in the AL West race, but they could be better than most pundits expect.

24.

The Orioles needed pitching answers to emerge in spring training; instead, the questions multiplied, from the ineffectiveness of Miguel Gonzalez -- who was eventually cut from the 25-man roster -- to the shoulder soreness of . The Orioles are going to score a lot of runs and they have a good defense and a good bullpen, but the rotation could be a huge problem.

25. Cincinnati Reds

Manager Bryan Price's team will have days when it puts up some runs, led by Joey Votto, catcher Devin Mesoraco and outfielder Jay Bruce (until Bruce gets traded, anyway). But the promising pitching is very early in its development, which probably means that Cincinnati will endure some ugly stretches of performance this summer while playing in the tough NL Central.

26. San Diego Padres

Of the Padres' first 44 games, 18 are against either the Dodgers and Giants, so the franchise could get a strong sense of where it will go in the second half of the year -- and they're much closer to committing to a makeover than they are to contending, it appears.

27.

The Brewers have committed to a necessary plan of action and focused on going young, and there will be growing pains this year.

28.

The search for pitching: Year No. 24.

29.

Their early-season schedule is absolutely brutal, and soon enough they'll be able to continue building their stockpile of prospects by weighing in-season deals for the likes of Erick Aybar and Ender Inciarte (and perhaps if he demonstrates his wrist is healthy).

30. Philadelphia Phillies

Scouts believe their pitching is a disaster and that it'll be an extremely difficult season. But what the front office is building -- with high-end prospects and incredible payroll flexibility that could be a major factor in the year Bryce Harper, , Jose Fernandez and others become free agents -- will be lasting. They could eventually become what the Cubs are now.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted: 6:39 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2016 NL's 2 worst teams from '15 open the season in Cincinnati By JOE KAY The Associated Press

CINCINNATI — Lou Piniella will wave to fans from the back of a car while serving as grand marshal of the annual opening day parade. He'll throw a ceremonial pitch at Great American Ball Park, reminding the wind-brushed fans of the Cincinnati Reds' last glory year in 1990.

And then they'll settle in and get a reality check as the NL's two worst teams of 2015 open the season together. The Philadelphia Phillies went 63-99, the NL's worst mark and their worst finish since 1969. The Reds were right behind at 64-98, their poorest mark since 1982 and the third-worst in franchise history.

Both teams went into an all-out rebuilding. Both are wondering if they've bottomed out and how long it will take before they can hold their own.

"We haven't had a lot of great reviews in the offseason," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We understand that. We understand where we are as an organization.

"It doesn't mean that we've lowered our expectations to go out there and compete in the division, not just to play hard but to win games. And introduce a young group of pitchers to the major leagues and get them acclimated to pitching here and rebuilding that pitching staff."

A few stars remain — Joey Votto for the Reds, Ryan Howard for the Phillies — but both rosters are filled out with youngsters trying to start a career. The Reds' pitching staff is not only inexperienced, but already depleted as well.

They went with an all-rookie rotation for the last 64 games last season, a major league record. They had to put four of their young starters on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. Raisel Iglesias starts the opener because Anthony DeSclafani — the top starter last season — has a strained oblique.

The offense should be better with catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Zack Cozart back from injuries, but the rotation is still a work in progress and there's no proven closer.

"I think it's going to be about our pitching and I think we have good enough guys that are going to be able to keep us where we need to be," catcher Tucker Barnhart said. "And we're going to score some runs and hopefully win a lot more ballgames than some people think."

The Phillies can identify. They, too, have a young pitching staff and no proven closer.

Jeremy Hellickson starts the opener, unsure how many games he'll get with the Phillies. They got him from Arizona in a trade last November to add a veteran to their young staff. He can become a free agent at the end of the season, so there's a chance he could be dealt in July.

For both teams, it's more about enjoying the moment before the losses start to pile up.

"I've been a part of five opening days now, and just the atmosphere — standing on the line, seeing everything, how opening day goes down — you kind of just think, 'Hopefully I can pitch one of these game sometime in my career,'" said Hellickson, who was 9- 12 last season. "It's exciting, that's for sure. I couldn't ask for a better situation to come into."

TRANSACTIONS 04/03/16

Pittsburgh Pirates placed RHP Jared Hughes on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left lat strain 3B Zachary Houchins assigned to Los Angeles Angels. Cleveland Indians designated LHP Giovanni Soto for assignment. Cleveland Indians placed RF on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 28, 2016. Left wrist impingement Cleveland Indians placed LF Michael Brantley on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from November 2015 right shoulder surgery Cleveland Indians selected the contract of from . Cleveland Indians selected the contract of Marlon Byrd from Columbus Clippers. Cincinnati Reds placed C Kyle Skipworth on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 31, 2016. Recovering from December 2015 left ankle surgery Cincinnati Reds placed CF Yorman Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, 2016. Left hamstring strain Cincinnati Reds placed RHP Jon Moscot on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right intercostal strain Cincinnati Reds placed RHP Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right elbow sprain Cincinnati Reds placed LHP John Lamb on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from December 2015 back surgery Cincinnati Reds placed RHP Anthony DeSclafani on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Mild oblique strain Cincinnati Reds designated CF Jake Cave for assignment. Cincinnati Reds recalled Tyler Holt from . Cincinnati Reds selected the contract of Jordan Pacheco from Louisville Bats. Cincinnati Reds optioned Jose Peraza to Louisville Bats. Cincinnati Reds optioned Ramon Cabrera to Louisville Bats. San Diego Padres designated RHP Josh Martin for assignment. San Diego Padres selected the contract of Adam Rosales from . Chicago Cubs placed 3B Christian Villanueva on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Fractured right fibula Chicago Cubs placed RHP Aaron Brooks on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Hip contusion Chicago Cubs placed RHP Dallas Beeler on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right shoulder inflammation Chicago Cubs placed SS Javier Baez on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left thumb contusion Baltimore Orioles placed DH Jimmy Paredes on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left wrist sprain Baltimore Orioles placed LHP on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left intercostal strain Baltimore Orioles placed RHP Kevin Gausman on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right shoulder strain Austin Romine changed number to 27. New York Yankees placed LHP Aroldis Chapman on the restricted list. New York Yankees placed CF Mason Williams on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from August 2015 right shoulder surgery New York Yankees placed RHP Bryan Mitchell on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 31, 2016. Left great toe tear New York Yankees placed 1B Greg Bird on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from February 2016 right labrum surgery CF Todd Cunningham assigned to Los Angeles Angels. San Diego Padres placed LHP Buddy Baumann on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Low back strain San Diego Padres placed RHP Jon Edwards on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right flexor strain San Diego Padres optioned Austin Hedges to El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego Padres optioned Jose Pirela to El Paso Chihuahuas. Cincinnati Reds placed RF Juan Duran on the restricted list. San Diego Padres optioned Robbie Erlin to El Paso Chihuahuas. Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of 2B Cole Figueroa from . Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of from Indianapolis Indians. Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of Cory Luebke from Indianapolis Indians. Pittsburgh Pirates optioned to Indianapolis Indians. Pittsburgh Pirates designated SS Pedro Florimon for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates designated 1B Jake Goebbert for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates designated RHP John Holdzkom for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates placed C Elias Diaz on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right elbow strain Cleveland Indians designated LF Zach Walters for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates placed 3B Jung Ho Kang on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left knee injury Miami Marlins placed RHP Carter Capps on the 60-day disabled list. Recovering from March 2016 Tommy John surgery Miami Marlins placed LHP Mike Dunn on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left forearm strain Miami Marlins placed LHP Raudel Lazo on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left shoulder strain Miami Marlins selected the contract of LHP from New Orleans Zephyrs. Miami Marlins selected the contract of RHP Dustin McGowan from New Orleans Zephyrs. Miami Marlins selected the contract of Chris Narveson from New Orleans Zephyrs. Miami Marlins designated CF Cole Gillespie for assignment. Miami Marlins designated LHP Brad Hand for assignment. Tampa Bay Rays released 1B James Loney. Toronto Blue Jays placed RHP Marco Estrada on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, 2016. Back soreness Toronto Blue Jays placed LHP Aaron Loup on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Sore left elbow Toronto Blue Jays placed RHP Bo Schultz on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from off-season left hip surgery. Toronto Blue Jays placed 2B Devon Travis on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from September 2015 left shoulder surgery Seattle Mariners selected the contract of Joel Peralta from . Seattle Mariners designated C for assignment. Seattle Mariners placed LHP Charlie Furbush on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left biceps tendinitis Seattle Mariners placed RHP Evan Scribner on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right lat strain Kansas City Royals selected the contract of Chien-Ming Wang from Omaha Storm Chasers. Kansas City Royals placed LHP Tim Collins on the 60-day disabled list. Recovering from March 2015 Tommy John surgery Kansas City Royals placed RF Jarrod Dyson on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right oblique strain Los Angeles Angels placed LHP C.J. Wilson on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left shoulder tendinitis New York Mets placed LHP Josh Edgin on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from March 2015 Tommy John surgery New York Mets placed RHP on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from March 2015 Tommy John surgery Texas Rangers placed RHP Yu Darvish on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Texas Rangers placed C Chris Gimenez on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, 2016. Texas Rangers placed LF Josh Hamilton on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Texas Rangers placed RHP Luke Jackson on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. placed LHP Brett Anderson on the 60-day disabled list. Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Mike Bolsinger on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left oblique strain Los Angeles Dodgers placed RF Andre Ethier on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Broken right tibia Los Angeles Dodgers placed C on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right forearm soreness Los Angeles Dodgers placed LF Alex Guerrero on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left knee contusion Los Angeles Dodgers placed 2B Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Strained left calf Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Josh Ravin on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Left forearm fracture Los Angeles Dodgers placed LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Recovering from May 2015 left shoulder surgery Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of from . Colorado Rockies placed LHP on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right oblique strain Colorado Rockies placed SS Daniel Descalso on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Fractured left hand Colorado Rockies placed RHP Jairo Diaz on the 60-day disabled list. Recovering from March 2016 Tommy John surgery Colorado Rockies placed RHP on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Abdominal strain Colorado Rockies placed LHP on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Anxiety Colorado Rockies placed RHP Jason Motte on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right shoulder strain Colorado Rockies selected the contract of Jason Gurka from . Colorado Rockies optioned RHP to Albuquerque Isotopes. San Diego Padres selected the contract of Matt Thornton from El Paso Chihuahuas. San Diego Padres optioned Alexi Amarista to El Paso Chihuahuas.